Newspaper Reading Habits Among the Students of Farook College, Kozhikode

Original Research Article DOI: 10.18231/2456-9623.2018.0011

Newspaper reading habits among the students of Farook college, Kozhikode

Kadeeja Banu C V1,*, Yaseen Aboobacker K V2

1Assistant Professor on contract, Farook College, Kozhikode, Kerala, 2LIS Intern, National Library, Kolkata, India

*Corresponding Author: Email: [email protected]

Abstract Newspaper is a popular reading material that gives us day-to-day information. It helps the students to get current information as well as to improve their thinking and observation skill. It also helps them to know about career opportunities, scholarships, institutions of higher learning etc. The study is aimed to understand the newspaper reading habits of the students of Farook College. Primary data were collected through administering a well structured questionnaire among undergraduate and postgraduate students. Random sampling method is used. 261 questionnaires were distributed among the students. This study revealed that college students regularly read both Malayalam and English newspapers. They prefer to read education section in the newspaper that makes positive impact in their academic performance and career building. The study also indicated that lack of time is the major negative factor preventing them from newspaper reading.

Keywords: Newspaper, Reading habits, Students, Farook College.

Introduction Significance of the Study: It is necessary for students Reading is one of the most ancient means of to acquire knowledge for leading the nation towards bringing knowledge and culture within the reach of development. Newspaper is the main source to acquire people. It helps in enriching the personality of an knowledge about country‘s economy, social, political individual in the society as it increases intellectually factors. So newspaper reading habits of the students motivational interactions. Newspaper is one of the most should be analyzed. This study may encourage students popular reading materials give us day today information to use newspaper as a useful tool in their academic and comments on current affairs. According to ALA activities. It will provide an opportunity for students to Glossary, Newspaper is a publication issued at stated voice their views concerning the motives of reading and frequent intervals, usually daily, weekly or newspaper what they see as essential information for semiweekly which reports events and discuss topics of their education. This study could be beneficial for current interest. Newspapers are considered as the newspaper publishers to fulfill readers’ needs by mirror of the world. It’s an important source of tracking releasing content according to the necessities of their current events and their impact on national and target readers. It helps newspapers by revealing the international affairs. Newspapers are an important factors affecting the habits of reading newspaper among source of information as they contain abroad range of the students news on all subjects and activities. It plays an important role in the dissemination of information and encourages Objectives of the Study reading habits, underscore the responsibilities of The main objectives of the study are: citizenship. Newspapers also help students to improve 1. To determine how regular respondents read their thinking and observation skill and promote newspapers imagination. Newspapers also have a major role in 2. To know the time being devoted by respondents for formulating and shaping public opinion. The reading newspapers knowledge is supplemented to these subjects by the 3. To determine the purpose of reading newspapers newspapers. The student must be aware of what is 4. To determine the ways through which they obtain happening in the world around him. Newspaper is an newspaper for reading important service that can render to education by 5. To know the different areas of interest of imparting knowledge of current to students. So it is to respondents in newspaper serve as one of the important medium of education and 6. To determine the students dominant motives in instruction. reading newspapers Farook College is one of the autonomous colleges 7. To determine the media mostly preferred by the in Kerala equipped with a good library. It has a respondents valuable collection of books, periodicals, CDs and other audio visual aids. Among different sections or areas in Materials and Methods the library, newspaper reading room is highly used area. Primary data were collected using a well structured The college library subscribes nine Malayalam questionnaire. The data were collected from both newspapers and four English newspapers. undergraduate (UG) and postgraduate (PG) students in Farook College, Calicut. Random sampling method is IP Indian Journal of Library Science and Information Technology, January-June, 2018;3(1):49-55 49 Kadeeja Banu C V et al. Newspaper reading habits among the students of farook college…. used to collect the data. 261 questionnaires were the preferred language, preferred format, preferred distributed among these students, 222 UG and 39 PG section and to know the number of newspapers, time students. All questionnaires were collected and spent daily by the students for reading newspapers. Al- processed. Shaqsi, Obaid S (2013), Chinnasamy, K (2017), Dharani, H (2016) etc were also conducted similar Literature Review studies on the newspaper reading habits of students and There are several studies conducted by diverse others. authors to know the newspaper reading habits of various categories of people. Bharucha Jehangir (2017) Analysis of Data: The primary data were analyzed in made an analysis of newspaper reading patterns among the order of questions given in the questionnaire. The the youth. The main aim was to determine how regular results are as follows. they read the newspaper, the time spent, most read Interest in Reading Newspapers: It is believed that newspapers, and sections of newspapers read most by newspapers have major role in education. Students are students and opinion about electronic reading online supposed to read newspaper daily. This question is newspaper. Similarly Aggarwal and Akhter (2015) intended to know whether the respondents are made a study to know the newspapers reading habits of interested in reading newspapers daily. students and faculty members of Punjabi university Patiala. The main objectives of the study was to know

Table 1: Interest in reading newspapers Options UG PG Grand Total Percentage Yes 197 (88.7%) 38 (97.4%) 235 90 No 25 (11.2%) 1 (2.56%) 26 10

It is observed that large majority students (90 per Frequency of Reading Newspaper: Students read cent) are interested in reading newspapers. newspapers regularly or seldom. They read newspapers The table further shows that majority students on different time and for different length. This question (88.7 per cent) of UG and large majority students (97.4 is intended to know how often respondents read the per cent) of PG like to read newspaper. newspapers.

Table 2: Frequency of reading newspaper Reading habit UG PG Grand Total Percentage Often 78 (35.1%) 18 (46.1%) 96 36.8 Sometimes 137 (61.7%) 21 (53.8%) 158 60.5 Never 7 (3.1%) 0 (0%) 7 2.7

The table revealed that regular readers are less compared to those who (60.5 per cent) read newspaper It is clear from figure that more than half of the UG sometimes and a few (2.7 per cent) never read students (61.7 per cent) and PG students (53.8 per cent) newspaper. read newspaper sometimes. The overall analysis shows that more than half of the students read newspaper sometimes.

Time Spend for Newspaper Reading: Students use different length of time for reading newspapers. Here the students were asked to indicate the time they spend for reading newspaper

Table 3: Time spend for Newspaper reading Time spend UG PG Grand Total Percentage Less than 1 hour 195 (87.8%) 32 (82.1%) 227 87 1-2 hour 25 (10.8%) 7 (17.9%) 32 12.2 More than 2 hour 2 (0.9%) 0 (0%) 2 0.8 IP Indian Journal of Library Science and Information Technology, January-June, 2018;3(1):49-55 50 Kadeeja Banu C V et al. Newspaper reading habits among the students of farook college….

Table 3 shows that majority of students (87 per Majority of students spend less than one hour for cent) spend less than one hour for reading the newspaper reading in a day. newspapers in a day. (12.2 per cent) students spend 1-2 hours for reading newspapers in a day. Least students Place of Obtaining Newspaper for Reading: Students (0.8 per cent) said that they spend more than two hours get newspaper for reading from different places. for reading newspapers in a day. Newspapers are commonly found at home, in libraries, The table further shows that majority of the UG hostels, departments, and even in classrooms. The students (87.8 per cent) and PG students (82.1 per cent) students were asked to indicate from where they get spend less than one hour for reading the newspapers in newspaper for reading. a day.

Table 4: Place of obtaining newspaper for reading Place of obtaining UG PG Grand Total Percentage newspaper Home 189 (72.4%) 24 (61.5%) 213 81.6 Public library 2 (0.8%) 2 (5.1%) 4 1.5 College library 43 (16.5%) 10 (25.6%) 53 20.3 Department 3 (1.1%) 0 (0%) 3 1.1 Others 14 (5.37%) 10 (25.6%) 24 9.2

Table 4 reveals that majority of the students (81.6 Number of Newspapers Read Daily: Many per cent) obtain newspaper from their home. A few are newspapers, in different languages, are subscribed in using public library (1.5 per cent) and (1.1 per cent) college library. Students are getting great opportunity department for reading newspapers. for reading different newspapers published with The table further shows that majority of UG (72.4 different policies and interests. The students were asked per cent) and more than half of PG (61.5 per cent) to give information about the number of newspapers students obtain newspaper from home. they read daily. It reveals that majority students obtain newspaper from their home for reading.

Table 5: Number of newspapers read daily Number of newspapers UG PG Grand Total Percentage One 172 26 (66.6%) 198 75.9 (77.4%) Two 39 (17.6%) 9 (23.1%) 46 18.4 More than two 11 (4.9%) 4 (10.2%) 15 5.7

Majority of the respondents (75.9 per cent) read The overall analysis shows that majority of the one newspaper daily. Least respondents (18.4 per cent) students read one newspaper daily. and (5.7 per cent) read two and more than two newspapers daily respectively. Language of Reading Newspaper: There are many The table further shows that majority of the UG newspapers available in different languages. The students (77.4 per cent) and more than half of PG investigator was asked to indicate the language students (66.6 per cent) read one newspaper daily. preferred for reading newspapers.

Table 6: Language of reading newspaper Language of reading UG PG Grand Total Percentage newspaper Malayalam 199 (89.6%) 36 (92.3%) 235 90 English 38 (17.1%) 8 (20.5%) 46 17.6 Others 0 (0%) 0 (0%) 0 0

It is clear from above table that large majority of The table further shows that majority of UG respondents (90 per cent) read newspaper in Malayalam students (89.6 per cent) and large majority of PG language. A few respondents (17.6 per cent) read students (92.3 per cent) prefer to read newspaper in newspaper in English language. Malayalam language.

IP Indian Journal of Library Science and Information Technology, January-June, 2018;3(1):49-55 51 Kadeeja Banu C V et al. Newspaper reading habits among the students of farook college….

The overall result shows that large majority of Among these students might have certain preferences. respondents prefer to read newspaper in their mother To understand the preference, students were asked to tongue note their preferred newspaper in Malayalam. Newspaper Preference in Malayalam Language: There are many newspapers available in Malayalam.

Table 7: Newspaper preference in Malayalam language Most read Malayalam UG PG Grand Total Percentage newspaper Malayala Manorama 115 (51.8%) 23 (58.9%) 138 52.9 Mathrubhumi 74 (33.3%) 14 (35.8%) 88 33.7 Madhyamam 56 (25.2) 11 (28.2%) 67 25.6 Chandrika 14 (6.3%) 8 (20.5%) 22 8.4 Deshabhimani 22 (9.9%) 3 (7.6%) 25 9.5 Kerala kaumudi 2 (0.9%) 0 (0%) 2 0.7 Mangalam 1 (0.4%) 0 (0%) 1 0.3 Suprabhaatham 15 (6.7%) 4 (10.2%) 19 7.2 Veekshanam 3 (1.3%) 0 (0%) 3 1.1 Thejas 8 (3.6%) 0 (0%) 8 3 Others 0 (0%) 0 (0%) 0 0

It is evident from the table that more than half of The overall analysis reveals that more than half of the students (52.9 per cent) read Malayala Manorama the students read Malayala Manorama and a good news paper, a good number of students (33.7 per number of students read Mathrubhumi. cent)read Mathrubhumi, few (25.6 per cent) read Newspaper Preference in English Language: There Madhyamam and a very few students read other are many newspapers available in English. Similar to newspapers such as Chandrika, Deshabhimani, Kerala Malayalam news daily, students may have certain kaumudi, Mangalam, Suprabhaatham, Veekshanam and preference in English newspaper also. Thejas. The table further shows that more than half of the students of UG (51.8 per cent) and PG (58.9 per cent) read Malayala Manorama.

Table 8: Newspaper preference in English language Options UG PG Grand Total Percentage The Times of India 24 (63.1%) 2 (25%) 26 56.5 The Hindu 30 (78.9%) 6 (75%) 36 78.3 Deccan Chronicle 7 (18.4%) 3 (25%) 10 21.7 The Indian Express 22 (57.9%) 2 (25%) 24 52.2 Others 0 (0%) 0 (0%) 0 0

Majority of students (78.3 per cent) prefer The Purpose of Reading Newspaper: The purpose of Hindu daily followed by the Times of India and the reading newspaper is different from person to person. Indian Express. Some of them read newspaper for getting information, The table further shows that majority of students of some others for updating general knowledge, etc. This UG (78.9 per cent) and PG (75 per cent) read The question is intended to know the purpose of the reading Hindu newspaper. newspapers. Overall analysis reveals that majority of students opined that their favorite newspaper is The Hindu.

Table 9: Purpose of reading newspaper Purpose UG PG Grand Total Percentage For getting information 15 (68%) 28 (71.8%) 179 68.6 For updating General 41.8 89 (40%) 20 (51.3%) 109 knowledge For searching jobs 26 (11.7%) 2 (5.1%) 28 10.7 For academic purpose 41 (18.4%) 11 (28.2%) 52 19.9 IP Indian Journal of Library Science and Information Technology, January-June, 2018;3(1):49-55 52 Kadeeja Banu C V et al. Newspaper reading habits among the students of farook college….

For entertainment 61 (27.4%) 9 (23.1%) 70 26.8 Just for habit 51 (22.9%) 10 (25.6%) 61 23.3 Others 5 (2.2%) 2 (5.1%) 7 2.7

The table shows that more than half of the students The above figure shows that more than half of UG (68.6 per cent) read newspaper for getting information. students (68 per cent) and majority of PG students (71.8 A good number of students (41.8 per cent) read per cent) opined that they read newspaper for getting newspaper for updating general knowledge. Least information. number of students (10.7 per cent) opined that they read The overall analysis shows that more than half of newspaper for searching jobs. the students read newspaper for getting general information and further for updating general knowledge. Interested Area in Newspaper: Newspaper readers may have certain preferred pages or areas in their newspaper for reading like sports, editorial, politics, education, etc. This question is intended to know the interested area in reading newspapers

Fig. 2:

Table 10: Interested area in newspaper Interested area UG PG Grand Total Percentage Sensational news 87 (39.2%) 20 (51.3%) 107 40.9 Advertisement 73 (32.9%) 11 (28.2%) 84 32.2 Editorial page 73 (32.9%) 19 (48.7%) 92 35.2 80 30.6 International 65 (29.3%) 15 (38.5%)

Politics 57 (25.7%) 9 (23.1%) 66 25.3 104 21 125 47.9 Sports (46.8%) (53.8%) Entertainment 114 (51.3%) 15 (38.5%) 129 49.4 Business 28 (12.6%) 9 (23.1%) 37 14.1 Education 109 (49.1%) 24 (61.5%) 133 50.9 Agriculture 30 (13.5%) 8 (20.5%) 38 14.5 Health 41 (18.5%) 14 (35.9%) 55 21.1 Letters 15 (6.7%) 2 (5.1%) 17 6.5

It is clear from above table that half of the students (50.9 per cent) prefer to read the education section in the newspaper. Around half of the students (49.4 per cent) and (47.9 per cent) are interested in entertainment and sports news. A good number of students (40.9 per cent), (35.2 per cent), (32.2 per cent) and (30.6 per cent) prefer sensational news, editorial page, advertisement and international news respectively. A few of the students (14.5 per cent), (14.1 per cent) and (6.5 per cent) read agriculture, business and letters respectively.

IP Indian Journal of Library Science and Information Technology, January-June, 2018;3(1):49-55 53 Kadeeja Banu C V et al. Newspaper reading habits among the students of farook college….

Fig 3: Half of the students are interested in reading The above figure shows that more than half of the education area in the newspaper and they also prefer to students of UG (51.3 per cent) opined that their read entertainment and sports news. interested area for reading newspaper is entertainment Inspiration for Reading Newspaper: Reading and more than half of the students of PG (61.5 percent) newspaper is one of the good habits in students. They said that their interested area for reading newspaper is get inspiration from somewhere for reading newspaper. education. This question was intended to know from where the students get inspiration for reading newspapers.

Table 11: Inspiration for reading newspaper Inspiration UG PG Grand Total Percentage From teachers 57 (25.7%) 9 (23.1%) 66 25.3 From parents 142 (63.9%) 27 (69.2%) 169 64.7 From friends 23 (10.4%) 5 (12.8%) 28 10.7 From Library 9 (4%) 4 (10.2%) 13 4.9 Others 7 (3.1%) 2 (5.1%) 9 3.4

It is clear from table that more than half of the The overall result shows that more than half of the students (64.7 per cent) get inspiration from parents to students get inspiration from parents read newspaper. Friends, library and others are also Barriers that Prevent from Reading Newspapers: inspiring students to read newspapers. Reading newspaper is a routine job of everyone. There The table further shows that more than half of UG may be some reasons for not reading newspapers by (63.9 per cent) and PG students (69.2 per cent) get students. The students were asked to indicate the inspiration from parents. barriers that prevent them from reading newspaper

Table 12: The barriers that prevent from reading newspapers Barriers UG PG Grand Total Percentage Not enough time 144 (64.8%) 28 (71.8%) 172 65.9 Nothing to read that 21 51 (22.9%) 4 (10.2%) 55 interest me Non availability 13 (5.8%) 1 (2.5%) 14 5.3

The above table indicates that more than half of the The overall analysis reveals that more than half of students (65.9 per cent) have no enough time for the students are of opinion that there is no enough time reading newspaper. (21 per cent) said that there is for reading newspapers nothing interested to read in newspaper. Least number Format used to Read Newspaper: The newspapers of students opined that newspaper is not available for are available in different formats, like print and reading. electronic. Through the question, the investigator wants The further results show that more than half of the to know about the format preferred by the students to students of UG (64.8 per cent) and majority students of read the newspaper. PG (71.8 per cent) opined that time is the barrier that prevents them from reading newspaper. IP Indian Journal of Library Science and Information Technology, January-June, 2018;3(1):49-55 54 Kadeeja Banu C V et al. Newspaper reading habits among the students of farook college….

Table 13: Format used to read Newspaper Format UG PG Grand Total Percentage Print 195 (87.8%) 36 (92.3%) 231 88.5 Electronic 33 (14.9%) 2 (5.1%) 35 13.4

The table shows that majority students (88.5 per students to gather current knowledge on various cent) prefer newspaper in print format. Least number of topics and issues. students (13.4 per cent) is using newspaper in electronic 4. It should organize an awareness raising campaign format. to attract more students to read newspapers The table further shows that majority of UG students (87.8 per cent) and large majority of PG Conclusion students (92.3 per cent) prefer newspaper in print The newspaper remains an excellent medium format for reading. providing consumer with news from all over the world This reveals that majority of the students prefer and newspaper reading is an intellectual activity and a print format in reading newspapers good habit for every citizen. Children should start reading the newspaper at an early age. Parents should Major Findings of the Study be a role model to their children in reading newspapers. 1. Large majority of students are interested to read It improves the communication skills and their newspapers knowledge. 2. Students read newspaper sometimes 3. Majority of students spend less than one hour for References reading newspaper in a day. 1. Aggarwal, Anu and Akhter, mohd. “Newspaper reading 4. Majority of the students obtain newspaper from habit: A study of Punjabi university Patiala”. Journal of their home. international Academic research for multidisciplinary 2.12 (2015):371-378. www.researchgate.net.com. Web. 5. Majority of the students read one newspaper daily. 10 March 2017. 6. Large majority of respondents read newspaper in 2. Al-shaqsi, Obaid S. “Readership and Reader’s perception Malayalam language. of Omani newspapers”. Global media journal spring 7. Half of the students read Malayala Manorama news (2013):1-39. www.researchgate.net.com. Web. 10 March paper followed by Mathrubhumi. 2017. 8. Majority of students prefer The Hindu daily in 3. Bharucha, Jehangir. “An analysis of newspaper reading patterns among the youth”. International Journal of English language. English and Education 6.1 (2017):138-146. www.ijee.org. 9. More than half of the students read newspaper for Web. 10 March 2017. getting general information and further for 4. Chinnasamy, K. “newspaper reading habits and attitude updating general knowledge. in the electronic environment- A study of Madurai 10. Half of the students are interested to read education Kamaraj University, Madurai”. Web. 2 January 2017. area in the newspaper 5. Dharani, H. “Habit of reading newspaper and preference of print and online newspaper among the college 11. More than half of the students are motivated by students: A study”. International multidisciplinary their parents to read newspapers Research Journal 4.3 (2016):30-38. www.research- 12. Major hindrance for not reading newspaper is lack chronicler.com. Web. 10 March 2017. of time 13. Majority of the students prefer newspaper in print format

Suggestions for Improvement: Findings of the study clearly shows that the reading of newspapers by students is very low and they don’t have time to read it. Once the benefits of reading newspapers to students are known to them they will somehow read newspapers and enjoys benefits from it. So improving the newspaper reading habit is very important and college library should play a leading role for it 1. College library should provide enough facilities to read newspapers 2. It should provide facilities for e-newspaper reading in the library 3. College library should regularly organize events like study circles, debate clubs, seminars, essay competitions, quiz competitions, etc. to inspire IP Indian Journal of Library Science and Information Technology, January-June, 2018;3(1):49-55 55